Not only did the West Seattle YMCA recently receive a facelift – but the location also recruited a new face to serve at its helm.

Shalimar Gonzales took over as executive director just a couple of weeks ago – and is eager to put her stamp on the place.

Gonzales spent the past three years as executive director at the Meredith Matthews East Madison YMCA, where her main mission was “making sure the Y represents the community we’re trying to serve and that we create safe spaces for everyone.”

As Gonzales walks through the newly improved West Seattle YMCA, she is visibly brimming with excitement. A new family wing is one of her favorite parts, and she reports recently challenging a teenager to shoot some hoops in the “Tween Zone.”

A number of storage closets and seldom-used rooms have been converted to more functional spaces, she added.